America's Cup Recon: New faces aboard the French AC75
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 7 Jul 15:37 BST
Sailing Day 3 - La Roche-Posay Racing Team (FRA) - July 6, 2026 - Lorient. France © Pierre Bouras / America's Cup
The French America's Cup team sailed a two-hour session in light airs off Lorient on Monday.
The session was notable for the elevation of two new sailing squad members - world Moth champion Enzo Belanger who sailed in the sixth seat on the aft end of the AC75. He was joined by top match racer Maelenn Lemaitre, a five-times champion on the Womens World Match Racing Tour.
According to last Friday's edition of French newsletter 'Sailorz' the French America's Cup team will continue training in Lorient harbour until 17 July, before returning for a second training block from 1 to 14 August. The AC75 will then be transported to Naples, where it will resume sailing in October.
La Roche-Posay Racing Team - Sailing Day 3, July 6, 2026 - Lorient, France
Crew List:
- Starboard Helm: Quentin Delapierre (FRA)
- Port Helm: Diego Botin (ESP)
- Trimmer/Flight Control: Jason Saunders (NZL)
- Trimmer/Flight Control: Leigh McMillan (GBR)
- Position 5: Maelenn Lemaitre (FRA) Position 6: Enzo Belanger
Wind & Sea Conditions:
- Summary: Sunny warm day
- PM Wind: 135-145°: 5-7kts
- Sea State: Slight to calm with mirror patches
- Dock Out: 1158hrs
- Dock In: 1525hrs
- Time sailed: 120 minutes
Recon Report – Sailing Day 3 – July 6, 2026
La Roche-Posay Racing Team completed a full sailing day with B1 at Lorient in light air. The boat came out of the shed at 09:38hrs, with the mast raised shortly after in the usual sequence.
During rigging, the forestay appeared briefly led on the wrong side of the temporary masthead fitting and was re-led before installation continued.
Several small light patches, appearing to be light reinforcement, were noted along the starboard leading edge of the mast tube and did not appear present on earlier days. Paint chips observed at the end of the previous sailing day appeared repaired.
On the foils, the orange mark remained visible on the starboard outboard wing tip, while the orange mark seen on the port outboard wing tip on previous days no longer appeared present; the foil configuration otherwise appeared consistent with prior days. The rudder stock appeared consistent with prior observation. GoPro units appeared mounted on the forward deck sheer to port and starboard, in positions consistent with capturing foil or board movement, and the port and starboard deck poles consistent with LiDAR systems appeared fitted.
B1 was lifted in and launched around 10:40. Once afloat, technicians boarded to carry out control-system work, including what appeared to be cunningham hydraulic ram installation and associated cabling, followed by a mast rotation check and foil-cant and tacking or gybing dry-run sequences at the dock. Sailors then ran their own control-system checks.
The boat docked out at 11:58 under tow and was taken towards the western end of Île de Groix, where slightly more breeze appeared available. The tow was then released and the boat stopped to hoist the mainsail (M2-1), followed by a jib (J2-1). Faint stepped detail was visible on the jib luff between the first and second upper sail camber lines, consistent with local reinforcement seen on other jibs previously.
With sails up, a bow tow brought B1 onto the foils to build apparent wind before the tow was released, with the boat first foiling at 13:04. The session initially consisted of a series of short tow-release runs in light and progressively easing air, mixing upwind and downwind work with frequent touch-and-go and touchdown transitions. A longer starboard downwind leg was later completed, during which sudden ride-height and pitch variation was observed.
The main traveller appeared carried slightly to windward through several gybe exits. Towards the end of the session, downwind angles became wider, gybe exits appeared hotter and tack exits lower than in the more moderate breeze of earlier sessions, with the boat working increasingly hard to remain foiling as the breeze faded and near-glassy patches developed locally. The final touchdown and stop was at 14:29hrs, after which B1 was towed back towards harbour, docking in around 15:25. Before entering, the starboard foil arm stock hatch appeared opened for access. The boat was back in the shed at 17:02.
Conditions for Monday's session were sunny and warm with light and easing winds through the afternoon, from the SSE at approximately 135 to 145 degrees during the sailing session and slowly veering. The sea state was slight to calm, with mirror-like patches late in the session.